Beeger



BOLTLESS CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent:

Patented Nov. 4L, iltii.

Application filed .Tune 7, 1919. Serial No. 302,487.

To all lwhom t may concern:

.Be it known thaty I, LESTER B. KNAPEN- BERGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Limestone, in the county of Cattaraugus and State of ANew York', have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Boltless Clamps, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in clamps and has relation more particularly to a device of this general character especially designed and adapted for use in connection with the pull rods of oil wells or the like, and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved clamp having means whereby the same may be effectively engaged with the work without the necessity of bolts.

1t is also an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved clamp which affords means whereby the pull rod of an oil pump or the like may be effectively engaged with a pumping jack.r

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved clamp whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will `hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the Same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a clamp constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through' the device as illustrated in F ig. 1.

Fig. 3 is ai view taken substantially on the line 3-8 of Fig. 1, and v Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the key as herein embodied.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, P denotes the pull rod of a pump employed within a deep well and C denotes my improved clamp in its entirety, which clamp is constructed in a mannerwhereby it may be effectively maintained in connection with the r'od P Without the necessity of bolts,

whereby a decided advantage is obtained because it has been fully demonstrated in practice that the clamps now generally employed Afor the same purpose include bolts which, after the clamp has been exposed to the elements for a limited length of time, can ionly be removed with great difficulty.

My improved clamp comprisesa body 1, preferably rectangular in form, and has disposed therethrough adjacent its opposite sides the openings or bores 2. Directed through the openings '2 are the side members 3 of a substantially U-shaped loop member L, which loop member L affords means whereby the requisite connection may be had with the stirrup or ring (not\ shown) of a pumping jack. The extremities of the'side members 3 have engaged therewith the holding nuts l which contact` with the lower end of the body 1. By this means, the loop member L may be readily applied or removed as the occasions of practice may necessitate. v

A face of the body 1 substantially midway between the openings 2 is provided en tirely therealong with a channel -5 of a depth substantially equal to one-halfthe thickness of the body 1, and the baseportion a of the channel oils provided therealong with the groove 6 substantially semicircular in cross section and of substantially the same radius as the rod P. The side walls b immediately adjacent the base a of the channel 5 are undercut, as at 7, to provide tapering guideways for a purpose to be hereinafter more particularly referred to and the outer longitudinal marginal portions of the side walls Z) adjacent an end of the body 1 are provided withthe inwardly directed tapering flanges S partially overlying the channel 5 and which flanges afford the shoulders 9 at their inner ends.

K denotes an elongated key having its under `surface provided with a groove 10 extending entirely therealong and substantially' semicircular in cross section andl gradually tapering toward one end of the key K' so that. when the key K is forced within the channel 5, the body 1 will be effectively clamped to the rod P. The inner longitudinal marginal portions of the key K are provided with the outstanding longitudinally tapered fianges 11 which engage within the guidewav e assure the main:

tenance of the key li in working position.

. The inner end portion of the key K, when inserted, hasy its lower. part reduced in thickness and longitudinally tapered, as indicated atv l2, to extend between the anges 11, and said .reduced -part 12 affords the shoulders 14 which abut the shoulders 9 whereby the movement of 'the key K inwardly of the body B is limited.

The key Kmay be applied orremoved by imposing blows upon the key and it is to be particularly stated that with the use of the key K, the body 1 may\be held to the rod P without the necessity of bolt-s and.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in cept` as hereinafter claimed.

A clamp of the character described, coinprising a body having a channel extending along a face thereof, the base of said chan-v nel having a groove, -a portion of the side practice eX- Vwalls of the channel being provided with inwardly directed tapering flanges, said side walls being also provided with tapering guide ways, and a key insertible within vthe channel of the body, said key being provided with outwardly directed longitudi nally tapered flanges to engage within the guide ways in the body, and having a face thereof reduced in width to provide slioulders, said reduced portion extending be-4 tween the inwardly directed flanges, said flanges and shoulders of the key affording abutinents to limit the insertion of the key within the channel, the inner face of the key `having a tapering groove registering with the groove in the base of the channel.

In testimony whereofI I hereunto affix my signature in the. presence of two witnesses.

LESTER B. KNAPENBERGER. lVitnesses T. C. JORDAN, R. M. DEMPSEY. i 

